January King Cabbage Seeds

Winter harvest. January King cabbage seeds are a French HEIRLOOM with pretty green heads, lovely purple markings adorn slightly savoyed outer leaves. The heads are 1.5-2.25kg (3-5lb) on compact, very cold-hardy plants. If planting early July, they will hold in the garden until March. Sow January King cabbage seeds in June and transplant in July. The cabbages really do take on extraordinary colours once frost arrives, with crazy shades of pink and purple petioles over the blue and green leaves. Heads are tightly packed with very sweet cabbage flavour. This is a beautiful cabbage, and deserves to be better known in North America.

Cabbage is another cole crop full of nutrients, including vitamins A, B1, B2, and C, as well as various antioxidants. The American Cancer Society strongly urges an increased intake of cabbage and other Brassicas in the diets of North Americans. Eating lots of cabbage may also protect the eyes from macular degeneration. To preserve its vitamins and mineral content, do not overcook cabbage. Avoid cooking in aluminum pans to keep the smell down. Store cut cabbage in the refrigerator in a plastic bag with holes in it and use as soon as possible. Cabbages are also highly ornamental in the garden -choose varieties for colour, deep-red, blue-green, dark-green or leaf texture, savoyed (crinkled), or flat leaf. To learn How to Grow Cabbage follow the easy instructions below.

LatinBrassica oleracea var. capitataFamily: Brassicaceae

Difficulty Moderately difficult

We Recommend: Charmant (CB231). For a standard green, summer harvest cabbage, Charmant is a great choice. Other cabbages have their selling points, and they’re all good but if your are new to cabbage growing, try Charmant.

Season & ZoneSeason: Cool seasonExposure: Full-sunZone: 3-10

Timing Sow indoors beginning in March and transplant outdoors from April to the end of July. Overwintering cabbage is sown outdoors during July. Optimal soil temperature: 10-30°C (50-85°F). Seeds should germinate in 7-10 days.

Growing Ideal pH: 6.5-7.0. Cabbage does best in humus-rich soil amended with composted manure. Mix ½ cup complete organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each transplant. If growth slows, side dress with a little more complete organic fertilizer. heads of early varieties can split from over-maturity, rapid growth after heavy rain, or irrigation after dry spells. Splits can be delayed by twisting the plant or cultivating deeply next to plants in order to break roots and slow growth. Fall and winter varieties stand in the garden longer without splitting. If direct sown, add 20-25 days to the maturity date.

Harvest Cabbage heads are ready when they’re firm to the touch, and when the interior is fairly dense. Heads will split when they’re allowed to overly mature. Rapid growth due to excess watering and fertility will also cause splitting of the head. Plant early, midseason and late varieties to spread out your harvest. Late varieties tend to be better for storage or for making sauerkraut. Early varieties tend not to store well.

Diseases & PestsDiseases Purple blotch (Alternaria porri) – Avoid wetting foliage if possible. Water early in the day so plant parts above the ground dry as quickly as possible. Allow for air circulation, and avoid crowding plants. Pull weeds around plants and garden area to increase air circulation. When plants are not wet, remove and destroy affected plant parts. In autumn rake and destroy all fallen or diseased leaves and fruit. Clubroot – If soil infested, add lime to raise soil pH to 7.2. Locate new plants in part of garden different from previous year’s location. If that is not possible, remove infested soil and replace with fresh soil. Purchase healthy transplants or start seed in sterile potting mix or fresh ground. Remove and discard or destroy entire infested plant along with immediately surrounding soil and soil clinging to roots.

Pests Flea Beetles – Use row covers to help protect plants from early damage. Put in place at planting and remove before temperatures get too hot in mid-summer. Control weeds. Cutworms – Control weeds. Cardboard collars around each plant give good protection. Cabbage root maggot – White maggot larvae tunnel in and feed on roots of plants. Damage causes wilting early on, death of plants later on. Use row covers to help protect plants from early damage. Cabbageworms – Handpick and destroy. Row covers may be useful on small plantings to help protect plants from early damage. Put in place at planting and remove before temperatures get too hot in midsummer. Cabbage aphids – A hard stream of water can be used to remove aphids from plants. Wash off with water occasionally as needed early in the day. Check for evidence of natural enemies such as gray-brown or bloated parasitized aphids and the presence of alligator-like larvae of lady beetles and lacewings.

Cabbage Pakoras

The ingredient list for this Cabbage pakoras recipe may not be immediately familiar to you, but they are all readily available these days. You may not use very much ajwain, but it is one of the essential flavours here. When it’s called for, it’s worth having on hand. Try these savoury snacks with tamarind chutney or even ketchup!

Heat two inches of vegetable oil in a deep, heavy bottomed pot over medium. Mix all the dry ingredients, and then toss the onion and cabbage until they are entirely coated. Then add a bit of water at a time, and stir with a fork. You want to create a paste out of the dry ingredients that is thick and clings to the vegetables. Don’t add so much water that it is a runny batter.

When the oil is hot (you can test with some of the paste – it should bubble and rise to the surface right away), carefully drop tablespoon-sized quantities of the cabbage mixture in, and fry until golden brown. You will want to turn them several times so they fry evenly. Lift them out and drain on kitchen towel.